CHAPTER16Differences

FOR MOST PEOPLE, SIMILARITIES, EVEN SUPERFICIAL ONES, MAKE INTERPERSONAL CONNECTIONS EASIER. WE TEND TO FEEL SAFER WITH WHAT IS FAMILIAR. ON THE OTHER HAND, DIFFERENCES, BOTH OBVIOUS AND SUBTLE, CAN BE VERY enlightening to explore. This is particularly true in coaching. Differences between your clients and their colleagues with regard to background, preferences, interpersonal style, and other variables often figure into the development challenges of your clients. Differences between the coach and the client also can be relevant to the progress made in coaching. It is important to help clients avoid overemphasizing similarities while ignoring relevant differences.

Traditional diversity categories that organizations use for ...

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